It was the first time the Washington Chamber of Commerce-sponsored breakfast attracted a crowd of more than 300 since 2002, when 355 attended.

Originally scheduled for Nov. 21 at Five Points Washington — just four days after the Nov. 17 tornado that ravaged the city — the breakfast was moved because Five Points' banquet rooms weren't available Thursday.

Prayer, faith and God were the focus of a nearly 90-minute program that included an emotional speech by Manier, who has become the face of Washington's recovery from the EF-4 tornado that destroyed or damaged more than 1,000 homes and has been linked to three deaths.

"There's no better place in America than Washington, Ill., and now the secret's out about who we are," he said.

Manier introduced and thanked elected officials, city staff and clergy who have driven the recovery efforts.

He had special thanks for Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, whose mother-in-law lost her home to the twister, and Washington Police Chief Don Volk, Fire Chief Mike Vaughn and City Administrator Tim Gleason.

"Jim got on the phone to his staff as he was walking near his mother-in-law's home and said, 'Bring everything you've got,'" Manier said.

Ardis was out of town and did not attend the breakfast.

As for the Volk and Vaughn, "they're the right people at the right time in the right positions," Manier said.

Manier said Gleason had been city administrator for only about a year — his first day on the job was Nov. 5, 2012 — when he was called upon to organize a recovery for which there's no manual.

The mayor choked up when thanking his wife Lada "for putting up with what I've been going through."

Pastor John Hauck from Evangelical United Methodist Church, who delivered the invocation, said, "God's hand covered many people in our community the morning of Nov. 17."

"Thousands were in churches. Thank you, God, for sparing our churches and your strength in this time of recovery," he said.

Program emcee Joe Russell, owner of Russell's Cycling & Fitness Center, said "we're humbled, we're different" because of the tornado, "but greater things are to come."

Featured speaker Carl Cannon, founder of the ELITE program for youth in Peoria, thanked Washington for "showing all of us how to be Washington strong."

The 20th annual Prayer Breakfast will be Nov. 20.

Page 2 of 2 - Steve Stein can be reached at 686-3114 or stevestein21@yahoo.com. Read his Stein Time blog on pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve.